Kara, the livestock superintendent, and other barn superintendents told the Fair Advisory Board this year’s entries have surged and the fair does not have enough pens to house all animals. Kara said she turned away multiple open-class sheep and is “stuffing” goat kids into undersized pens to accommodate entries.

Barn leaders gave counts in public comment: one superintendent reported approximately 59 junior exhibitors overall and other superintendents tallied about 58 goats, roughly 37 sheep, 34–37 hogs and eight steers in various classes. Those counts were described as estimates and likely to change on fair day.

Superintendents discussed short-term options: borrowing panels from neighboring counties, staging animals outside under tents, or having trailers vet‑checked at an alternate gate and walked directly to their assigned area. Board members cautioned that outside staging raises biosecurity and heat/animal‑welfare issues, and that vet checks and traffic flow must be managed to avoid mixing animals and public access.

Several practical constraints came up: the county’s available panels are partially stored and marshalled; many pens in the barns differ in size and some older panels zip-tied together may not form ideal layouts. One board member noted horses were once staged by trailer and vet‑checked on arrival as a model for managing peak demand; others worried about weekend rodeo activity colliding with show schedules.

Board members asked staff and superintendents to measure potential outside areas and to identify whether Jefferson County or other nearby fairs could lend panels on short notice. No formal motion was made; superintendents agreed to continue refining assignments and to update the board by the Friday before fair.

Speakers repeatedly emphasized the stakes for youth participation: several superintendents said they did not want to turn kids away and warned that denying entries could discourage families’ future involvement.